Chuck Colby

Popular Electronics Editorial

Popular
Electronics, June 1997

Editorial

Do you fit into this scenario?

In 1957, Charles Colby, a 15 year old high school student, invented
the Satellite Direct Broadcast System. Charles built a working DBS demo
system in his father's garage in Fresno, California and showed it as
his high school Science Fair project. The rest is a marvelous 40-year
history.

Probably, Thomas Alva Edison is the greatest American gadgeteer tinkerer
of all time.

There are many examples of children and young men who, with the application
of their minds and the dexterity of their hands, developed and built
devices that eventually because successful products that we use today.
Most of us started with small home-brew contrivances that effected only
our own lives, launching us into a hobby arena from which we derive
great pleasure. I remember my first project. It was a spark coil made
from scrap telephone wire, a bolt from an old Reo truck, and a steel
strap from a packing case. The wood base came from an apple crate.

Whatever it is that started us on this hobby's path must be somewhere
in our genes. Don't look for it; just be grateful there's something
in us that gives us the impetus to continue forward in our hobby activities.

With this last thought in mind, the publisher and editors of Popular
Electronics bring forth another issue of their magazine that's dedicated
to the electronics hobbyist. No, you probably won't become another Charles
Colby or Thomas Edison, but your will probably have as much fun as they
did.

There's another bonus. Every time I vaporize rosin as I get the solder
to flow, I become a kid again. The spirit of that same boy who assembled
his first spark coil rejuvenates. The joy of building projects is eternal!